Improvement in projectiles



De L. KENNEDY.

PROJE CTILE.

Patented Apri13, 1877.

FIG.1.

FIG. IV,

FI G111 III [III

III

INVENTO R WITNESSES.

DE LANGY KENNEDY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROJECTILES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No 189,043, dated ApriI 3, 1877; application fil March 15, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DE LANCY KENNEDY, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improved Projectile, of which the following is a specification:

'The object of this invention is to provide a projectile that will more easily penetrate the armor-plates of a war-vessel, and which 1 propose to accomplish by so shaping its end as to effect a continuous shearing-cut, similar to that performed by the blades of a pair of shears, and thus, with comparative ease and certainty, to puncture the armor of a ship or the turret of a monitor at which it may be fired; and it consists in giving to the ends of such missiles at chisel-point, with a spirallyinclined contour around its periphery, by which such continuous shearing-cut is performed as it penetrates the plate.

Referring to the annexed drawing, Figure 1 represents a face view of projectile having a chisel-edge radiating from its center to its periphery, with a spiral incline all around. Fig. 2 represents a modification, the chiseledge extending all across the face, with spiral inclines from the point of one to the base of the other, or half round the periphery. Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a side view of Fig. 2.

The cutting-edge of the point or forward end of a projectile, made in accordance with this invention radiates from the center A to the periphery at B, and thence spirally all around on a grad nal and uniform incline to the point C, perpendicular to the point B.

It may be desirable to have two radial chisel-edges on the face, as represented in Figs.

2 and 4, with inclines extending from the point B of the one to the perpendicular base 0 of the other, or one-half round the periphery. This will balance the missile, and prevent any tendency to deviate from its course.

The radial cutting-edges A to B may be square across or diagonal to the axis of the projectile, inclining rearwardly. [n the latter case, on striking the target, the penetration will commence at the center, extending radially to the periphery, and around the lat ter on an incline, performing, as itwere, a shearing operation in penetrating.

Thus, it will be seen that the two opposite sides of the periphery are cutting simultaneously; consequently the projectile is balanced on its axis, and the cut or penetration being gradual, the resistance is comparatively easily overcome.

The shearing-face ot' a projectile constructed on this plan may be of the full diameter of such missile, or less than that of its body por tion, as will effect the greatest penetration with a given charge of powder.

What I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A projectile constructed with a cuttingedge, extending radially from the axis at A to the periphery at B, and thence spirally around, or partly around, the periphery to the point 0, substantially as shown and described.

- DE LANOY KENNEDY.

Witnesses:

OLE H. HOLBERG, D. S. RIDDLE. 

